Emir Of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II
Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II is a prominent Nigerian economist and traditional ruler who has served as the Emir of Kano twice, following a career as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
- Date of Birth
- July 31, 1961
- Dynasty
- Dabo Dynasty
- Education
- Ahmadu Bello University (Economics), International University of Africa (Islamic Law)
- First Reign
- 2014–2020
- Second Reign
- 2024–Present (Contested)
- Previous Office
- Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (2009–2014)
Early Life and Financial Career
Born into the Fulani ruling house of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was educated at King's College, Lagos, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He began a successful career in banking, eventually becoming the CEO of First Bank of Nigeria before his appointment as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2009. At the CBN, he gained international recognition for his 'Sanusi Lamido Sanusi reforms,' which sought to sanitize the Nigerian banking sector following the 2008 global financial crisis. His tenure was marked by a commitment to transparency, though it ended controversially after he alleged a major shortfall in oil revenue remittances to the federal federation account.
The 14th Fulani Emir of Kano and Deposition
In June 2014, Sanusi was selected to succeed his grand-uncle, Ado Bayero, as the 14th Emir of Kano under the Fulani/Dabo dynasty, succeeding to the throne once held by his grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi I. During his first reign, he became a leading advocate for social reforms in Northern Nigeria, specifically targeting issues such as child marriage, female education, and polygamy. His outspoken nature on public policy and traditional practices frequently brought him into conflict with the state political leadership. This tension culminated in 2019 when the Kano State government under Governor Abdullahi Ganduje split the historic Kano Emirate into five separate domains. Subsequently, in March 2020, the government deposed Sanusi for 'insubordination'.
Reinstatement and Current Status
After his deposition, he was initially banished from Kano and subsequently lived outside the state until his 2024 reinstatement, while also engaging in global advocacy as a UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate. The political landscape in Kano shifted with the election of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who sought to reverse the actions of the previous administration. In May 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly repealed the 2019 law that had fragmented the emirate. Following this, the state government reinstated Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, a move intended to restore the unified traditional authority of the Dabo dynasty. However, the reinstatement was immediately contested in court and by rival claimant Aminu Ado Bayero, leaving the final status of the throne as a matter of ongoing legal dispute.
Key Works / Related Items
- 2009 banking-sector intervention, audit, recapitalisation, and governance reforms
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocate
- Advocacy for girls' education, child marriage reform, and maternal health
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